Dr. Anju Majeed, Sami-Sabinsa Group Executive Chairperson, Shaheen Majeed, Sami-Sabinsa Group Global Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, and the entire Sami-Sabinsa Group family mourns the sudden passing of President R&D Nagabhushanam Kalyanam, Ph.D. at age 74. Dr. Kalyanam was a dedicated scientific advisor to Dr. Muhammed Majeed, Founder and Chairman, of Sami-Sabinsa Group in the development of the company’s various high-quality ingredients until Dr. Majeed’s passing in March.
Dr. Kalyanam’s obtained his M.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Madras and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Baylor University (Texas). Following two-years of post-doctoral research in the United States on chiral chemistry and chiro-optical methods, he returned to India to work with IPCL (now part of Reliance group), Ciba- Geigy (now Novartis), and SPIC Pharma.
Dr. Kalyanam’s primary responsibilities at Sabinsa included development of efficient and novel scientific routes for xenobiotics and intermediates as well as exploration of new business areas. He was co-inventor of multiple Sami-Sabinsa Group patents around the world. Dr. Kalyanam co-authored more than 150 peer-reviewed research papers, including two book chapters in leading scientific journals. He has authored or co-authored eight published books, a few in still in process, describing the historical perspectives, ethnobotany, phytochemistry, various Pharmacological activities of multiple herbal extracts and the research into their beneficial compounds. His numerous contributions to the Sami-Sabinsa Group over the past 25 years were recognized at national and international levels in the areas of synthetic methodology, chiral chemistry, and natural products.
“We offer our sincere condolences to the grieving family, friends, and loved ones of Dr. Kalyanam,” said Dr. Anju. “In addition to his research talents and dedication that helped make Sami-Sabinsa Group a very successful and leading a multinational health & life sciences company, he was a kind and thoughtful person and will be deeply missed by us all.”
“Dr. Kalyanam was profoundly devoted to his work, to my father, and the belief that his work could benefit overall health,” said Shaheen. “He challenged my father, he challenged me, and his contributions to Sabinsa will be etched in stone forever. I am eternally grateful for his wisdom, the insights he brought forth, and the help he gave to all of us.”
“This photo that was taken of Dr. Kalyanam at SupplySide Las Vegas facing another supplier’s booth was serendipitous, given that his knowledge and talent did indeed ignite the discoveries to improve human health that are his legacy,” Shaheen said.
Dr. Kalyanam leaves behind a wife, one son, one daughter, and four grandchildren.